Holderness School

Last updated

The Holderness School
HoldernessSchool1.JPG
Location
Holderness School
Holderness
,
New Hampshire

USA
Information
Type Private high school
Motto Latin: Pro Deo et Genere Humano
Religious affiliation(s) Episcopal
Established1879
Head of School John McVeigh
Grades9-12, PG
Number of students301 (2021)
CampusRural
Color(s) Blue
Mascot Blue Bull
Website www.holderness.org

The Holderness School is a private, coeducational college-preparatory school in Holderness, [1] near Plymouth, New Hampshire in the United States. The student body of 300 is drawn from 22 U.S. states and 14 foreign countries. While Holderness operates primarily as a boarding school, it also enrolls 25 day students. John McVeigh is currently Holderness School's 10th Head of School (headmaster). [2] McVeigh's predecessor was R. Phillip Peck, M.Ed. In the summer the campus is used as a site for various Gordon Research Conferences.

Contents

History

The town of Holderness had a unique background historically. Granted in 1765 to John Wentworth, and 67 other Episcopalians, Holderness was "a company of English immigrants ardently devoted to the creed and worship of the Church of England, and with glowing anticipation for the future of the colony". [3]

Founded in 1879, still under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, the school retains some links with the denomination, but now conducts ecumenical chapel services and welcomes applicants of all faiths.

The school has an exceptional sports program. Competitive with the highest rated college preparatory schools, a few of the school's headmasters had attended boarding schools, and Ivy League colleges. Don Hagerman, who was appointed in 1951, had been on the faculty of Deerfield Academy, and served as a headmaster at Tabor Academy, now a highly rated boarding school in Marion, Massachusetts. Hagerman graduated from Dartmouth College in 1935. [4]

As a private institution, the contemporary school has attempted to maintain small class sizes, offer a broad variety of subjects and give students the opportunity to experience New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. [5]

Location

The school is on high ground on the east side of the Pemigewasset River in Holderness overlooking the town of Plymouth, population about 6,000, and home of Plymouth State University and Speare Memorial Hospital. Holderness is about 110 miles (180 km) north of Boston. Access to Interstate 93 is within sight of the campus. [6]

Weld Dining Hall HoldernessSchool2.JPG
Weld Dining Hall
Holderness School Chapel HoldernessSchool4.JPG
Holderness School Chapel
Holderness School campus HoldernessSchool3.JPG
Holderness School campus

Facilities

Holderness School's 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land contains academic buildings, an outdoor covered ice rink, eight playing fields, 10 tennis courts, and 10 kilometers of cross-country trails. In the past few years, the school has built a new library and health center, a dining hall, two residential facilities, and a Math and Science center. The school has plans for greater improvements to the rink, an updated Athletics Center, and a student life facility centering on the school's historic chapel.

Special programs

The freshman class participates in Project Outreach, a community service project. Artward Bound offers sophomores a 10-day program of intensive study with professional artists in disciplines such as glass-blowing, blacksmithing, African dance, and stand-up comedy. The "Out Back" program is a cornerstone of life at Holderness. In Out Back, juniors trek in the woods for 11 days in a winter expedition all while, keeping a personal journal, learning and living together and experiencing a three days solo. Seniors complete a Senior Thesis which is a year-long experiential learning project culminating in a presentation and project. [7]

Notable alumni

Jed Hoyer 2015 -WinterMeetings- Jed Hoyer (23613745646).jpg
Jed Hoyer

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul's School (New Hampshire)</span> College-preparatory high school in New Hampshire, USA

St. Paul's School is a college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire, affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school's 2,000-acre (8.1 km2), or 3.125 square mile, campus serves 540 students, who come from 37 states and 28 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northfield Mount Hermon School</span> School in Gill, Massachusetts, United States

Northfield Mount Hermon School, is a co-educational college-preparatory school in Gill, Massachusetts. It educates boarding and day students in grades 9–12, as well as post-graduate students. It is a member of the Eight Schools Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford School</span> Public school in Bedford, England

Bedford School is a 7–18 boys public school in the county town of Bedford in England. Founded in 1552, it is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the Harpur Trust. Bedford School is one of the oldest boys' schools in the United Kingdom, and was the winner of the Independent Boys School of the Year Award at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loomis Chaffee School</span> American college preparatory school

The Loomis Chaffee School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, including postgraduate students, located in Windsor, Connecticut, seven miles north of Hartford. As of the 2024-25 school year, 70 percent of Loomis Chaffee's 742 students reside on the school's 300-acre campus and represent 51 foreign countries and 27 U.S. states; the remaining 30 percent are day students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proctor Academy</span> Private, boarding school in Andover, New Hampshire, United States

Proctor Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on 2,500 acres (10 km2) in Andover, New Hampshire. The school was established in 1848 by the town of Andover, with Dyer H. Sanborn as the principal. There are about 370 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kents Hill School</span> Private, boarding school in Kents Hill, Maine, United States

Kents Hill School is a co-educational, independent college-preparatory school for boarding and day students. Kents Hill is located in Kents Hill, Maine, 12 miles west of the state capital of Augusta. It is the 30th oldest boarding school in the United States and one of the oldest continuously operating co-educational college preparatory schools. One of the three oldest Methodist academies in the United States, the school is now a member of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooks School</span> Private school in Massachusetts, US

Brooks School is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory boarding school in North Andover, Massachusetts, United States, on the shores of Lake Cochichewick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Mountain School</span> Private, boarding and coeducational school in Bethlehem, NH, US

The White Mountain School, often called White Mountain or WMS, was a co-educational, independent boarding school located in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, United States. Established in 1886 as St. Mary's School in Concord, New Hampshire, the school moved to its second location in 1936, situated just north of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The school ceased operations in 2024, citing insurmountable financial challenges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)</span> Preparatory school in Southborough, Massachusetts

St. Mark's School is an Episcopal college-preparatory day and boarding school in Southborough, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Founded in 1865, it was one of the first British-style boarding schools in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Governor's Academy</span> Private, boarding school in Byfield, Massachusetts, United States

The Governor's Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory day and boarding school in Byfield, Massachusetts. Established in 1763 in memory of Massachusetts governor William Dummer, Governor's is the oldest boarding school in New England.

Eaglebrook School is an independent junior boarding and day school for boys in grades six through nine. It is located in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is on the Pocumtuck Range near Deerfield Academy, and sited on an 850-acre (3.4 km2) campus which is also preserved by the Deerfield Wildlife Trust. Eaglebrook School is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Wandsworth College</span> Public school in Hampshire, England

Lord Wandsworth College (LWC) is a co-educational private school in Long Sutton, Hampshire, England, for day and boarding pupils between the ages of 11–18, which occupies a 1,200 acre campus and is known for its charitable foundation. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colby–Sawyer College</span> Private college in New London, New Hampshire, US

Colby–Sawyer College is a private college in New London, New Hampshire, United States. It was founded as a coeducational academy in 1837 and sits on a 200-acre (0.81 km2) campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concord Academy</span> Private school in Concord, Massachusetts, US

Concord Academy is a coeducational, independent college-preparatory school for boarding and day students in Concord, Massachusetts. CA educates approximately 400 students in grades 9–12. Unusually for a boarding school, a majority of CA students are day students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deerfield Academy</span> Independent, boarding and day school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States

Deerfield Academy is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day school in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1797, it is one of the oldest secondary schools in the United States. It is a member of the Eight Schools Association and the Ten Schools Admission Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkshire School</span> Private, boarding school in Massachusetts, United States

Berkshire School is a private, co-educational boarding school located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Hall's School</span> All girls, independent school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States

Miss Hall's School is an independent boarding and day school for grades 9-12 located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1898 by Mira Hinsdale Hall, a graduate of Smith College, it was one of the first girls' boarding schools established in New England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westminster School (Connecticut)</span> Private boarding school in Simsbury, Connecticut, United States

The Westminster School is a private, coeducational college-preparatory, boarding and day school located in Simsbury, Connecticut, United States, accepting around 20% of applicants. The total student population is approximately 400, and includes pupils from 25 US states and 30 countries. It is also a member of the Founders League, an athletic league comprising ten college preparatory boarding schools in Connecticut and one in New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakefield College School</span> School in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada

Lakefield College School is a private day and boarding school located north of the village of Lakefield, Ontario. It was the first Canadian member of Round Square, an international affiliation of schools.

The Academy for Science and Design (ASD) is a Blue-ribbon public charter school located in Nashua, New Hampshire, United States. It has been consistently ranked as among the top high schools in the United States, as well as the #1 school in the state of New Hampshire. ASD concentrates on providing a STEM-based education. The academy is tuition-free for New Hampshire residents. However, the limited space available for new students makes a lottery system necessary. All applicants who are eligible for the lottery are drawn and this order is used to create the waiting list each year. The school is physically located in Nashua, but is a New Hampshire public school and all New Hampshire students are eligible to apply for enrollment. Nashua students are not given priority over students from any other New Hampshire towns.

References

  1. ↑ "Holderness, New Hampshire". Mapsonline.net. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ "School Leadership - Holderness School". www.holderness.org. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  3. ↑ Stacy, Myrtle, R., "Holderness was Planned to Rival Boston, Mass", Journal Tribune, Biddeford, Maine, pg. 14, 22 June 1961
  4. ↑ "Good Shepherd Loyalty Dinner", Nashua Telegraph, Nashua, New Hampshire, pg. 3, 22 October 1956
  5. ↑ "School Leadership - Holderness School, School Curriculum". www.holderness.org. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ "School Leadership - Holderness School, School Curriculum". www.holderness.org. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Holderness School ~ Homepage". Holderness.org. April 6, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Holderness School ~ Bro Adams '65 Nominated to Lead National Endowment for the Humanities". Holderness.org. April 6, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Holderness School ~ Julia Ford '08 named to the U.S. Alpine Olympic Team". Holderness.org. April 6, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-lowry-0113a9ba/ [ self-published source ]
  11. ↑ "Palmer and Miss Boydstun Take Titles in National Skiing Championships (Published 1970)". The New York Times. March 15, 1970. Retrieved January 2, 2021.

43°45′32″N71°40′28″W / 43.75889°N 71.67444°W / 43.75889; -71.67444

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.